Top-rated family lawyers

What does a family lawyer do?

A family lawyer handles legal matters between spouses, parents and children: divorce, time-sharing and parenting plans, child support, alimony and property division.

• Divorce, contested and uncontested
• Parenting plans and time-sharing
• Child support and alimony
• Division of property and debts
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
• Paternity and relocation with a child

When do you need a family lawyer?

See a family lawyer before you file or sign anything, especially when there are children, a business or significant assets.

• You are considering divorce or were served with a petition
• You and the other parent disagree on time-sharing
• Support needs to be set, changed or enforced
• You plan to move away with a child

Who are the best family lawyers in Florida?

The statewide ranking lists the top 25 of the 73 family lawyers LexRanked tracks in Florida, in order of their LexRank score. See the best family lawyers in Florida.

Where can I find a family lawyer in Florida?

Family rankings cover 8 Florida cities; Tampa has the most lawyers compared (12).

How much does a family lawyer cost in Florida?

Family lawyers usually bill by the hour against a retainer, and some offer flat fees for uncontested cases. Florida's rules bar fees that depend on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony or support, and a court can order one spouse to contribute to the other's fees (section 61.16). Under The Florida Bar's rules, a lawyer who has not represented you before must explain the basis or rate of the fee and costs, preferably in writing, and no fee may be clearly excessive.

Florida family rules to know

Florida divorce is no-fault, requires six months of residency, and presumes equal time-sharing of children unless shown otherwise.

What does Board Certified in Marital and Family Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. About 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

How to choose a family lawyer

Confirm the license in The Florida Bar's directory, then compare experience, certification and how often the lawyer handles cases like yours.

1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory: the license must show as eligible to practice, and public discipline is listed there.
2. Check for Board Certified in Marital and Family Law, which requires peer review and an exam.
3. Ask for the fee agreement in writing before work starts.
4. Ask: Do you recommend mediation for my case?
5. Ask: How do you bill, and what retainer do you need?
6. Ask: How often do you appear before the judges in this circuit?

How LexRanked ranks family lawyers

By the LexRank score: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location, using only facts with a cited source. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Data checked November 2026 against each lawyer's Florida Bar profile. Payment never changes a position. See how we rank.

Guides

Read these before you hire a family lawyer:

• How to get divorced in Florida: steps, costs and timeline
• Florida child custody and time-sharing explained

Sources

• Florida Statutes, section 61.021
• Florida Statutes, section 61.13
• Florida Statutes, section 61.19
• Florida Statutes, section 61.16 (attorney fees in family cases)
• Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Rule 4-1.5 (fees and costs for legal services)
• The Florida Bar: Find a Lawyer directory